Browston Hall Hotel

Browston Hall Hotel

This house, now converted to a hotel, dates from the late 17th century and was rebuilt in the mid 18th century, with further alterations made in the 19th century. It is constructed of rendered and colour-washed brick with plain tiled roofs.

The original south block retains its early character, with both east and west gables displaying two circular windows in their heads and fragments of original kneelers to the gable heads. The south front reflects later work, presenting two storeys across three bays. Its most distinctive feature is a central false doorway in stucco, with an imitation six-panel door set within moulded eaves and a shouldered surround, beneath a frieze of foliage trail and a dentiled hood supported on scrolled consoles. To either side stand full-height canted bays of 19th-century date with plate glass sashes, while above the door sits a further sash window. The eaves cornice combines an egg-and-dart design from the 18th century over the door with machine-cut 19th-century work above the canted bays. The gabled roof is topped with internal end stacks.

A cross wing to the north was added or substantially remodelled in the mid 18th century. Its west side forms the entrance, presenting two storeys and a dormer attic across three bays. A central panelled door within a moulded doorcase sits beneath a hood, with 19th-century plate glass sashes as found elsewhere. The gabled roof contains one gabled dormer, while the east side of this double-piled wing displays similar fenestration with two gabled dormers. Ridge stacks are placed eccentrically on each roof. Two further ranges extend northward, of 18th-century origin but substantially altered during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Abutting the north-east side of the central 18th-century block stands a mid 18th-century orangery. This rectangular structure is glazed on its eastern sides with canted corners and features timber framing rising the full height, containing closely spaced glazing bars. A glazed doorway provides access from the south, and the structure is topped with a hipped roof of black glazed pantiles.

The interior contains notable plasterwork. A fine mid 18th-century open well staircase with one turn to the right features a closed string with scrolled tread ends, each tread furnished with three bobbin and square turned balusters. The handrail is ramped and wreathed. Above the staircase is a plaster ceiling in rectangular panels enclosing a central roundel, within which an eagle grips the light bracket. Over the entrance door stands a figure of Minerva.

The dining room and drawing room have been opened into a single bar area. Both retain significant plaster ceilings. The western ceiling features a central radiating sun surrounded by a circular arabesque Rococo trail extending into four corners, where four medallions contain female heads representing the four ages of woman. The eastern room has a simpler design with a central flying eagle within a Rococo circular trail, set within a square foliate trail with occasional excrescences. The window bay of the west room contains an Arcadian scene of figures in 18th-century dress set within several imaginary landscapes, including two churches, a windmill, trees and a lake. This composition appears unusually eclectic: the figures show Fragonardesque influence, the landscape recalls Japanese prints, the buildings are Romantic in style, and the whole arrangement fits neatly within the 19th-century canted bay, suggesting later addition or significant repainting. The general conception and arabesque design appear to be 18th century, while the figures of women and eagles appear to be 19th-century work. The ceilings were restored in the 1970s.

All doors are panelled and set within shouldered surrounds with panelled reveals.